Wire-fence clamp



(No Model.)

H. L. FROST. WIRE FENCE CLAMP.

INVENTOR Ear y 72 00 5 Y Patented June 2.3, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. FROST, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

WIRE-FENCE CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,385, dated June 23,1896.

Application filed October 21, 1895- Serial No. 566,309. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY L. Fnosr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oolum bus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire-Fence Olamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of wire-fence clamps of that class which are adapted to unite the vertical and horizontal wires.

The objects of myinvention are to provide a simple and reliable clamp of this class of superior construction by means of which the vertical and horizontal wires of a fence may be readily and firmly locked together and to produce other improvements which will be more specifically pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing my improved clamp applied to portions of a wire fence. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the clamp in an operating position, and Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the clamp before the same is bent.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

a represents the body of my improved clamp, which,as shown in the drawings, is preferably in the form of an oblong metallic plate. This plate I provide with an elongated mortise or slotted opening I), the latter being so located as to result in a greater width or thickness of material on one of the longer sides of the slot than the other.

As indicated in the drawings, one side of the mortise or slotted opening which is indicated at b is of greater length than the remaining side, the ends of said mortise being made to flare outwardly, as shown.

For reasons hereinafter stated, the ends of the approximately trapezoidal mortise thus formed, at its shortest side, are parallel with each other and substantially parallel with the ends of the plate a.

In order to utilize my improved clamp, the clamping-plate formed as above described is bent at its central portion transversely to form the substantially U shaped clampingbody. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings.) The horizontal wire 0 of the fence is made to enter the upper portion of the recess formed by the mortise b, after which the vertical or stay wire (1 is made to pass vertically down through the clamp-loop and on the outer side of the wire 0. The horizontal wire 0 is then forced downward by suitable means until it becomes firmly wedged in the narrower portion of the slotted opening I) and against the vertical wire, or the clamp may be forced upward. This operation will result in a slight crimp or bend of the wires at their contact-points, which slight bends or crimps, in conjunction with the straight ends of the slot, which, as hereinbefore stated, are formed at the shorter side of said slot, will operate to prevent the wire 0 springing upward through ordinary agitation of the fence.

It is evident that if desired the clamp may be arranged horizontallyinstead of vertically and the vertical wires forced sidewise instead of the horizontal wires being forced vertically. It is also evident that the clamp herein shown and described may be formed of a wire frame instead of a metallic plate, the rear portions of the clamp being bent inward to impart the desired inclines to the ends of the mortise.

From the construction and operation which I have herein shown and described, it is obvious that an exceedinglyeffective and durable clamp may be produced between. the oross-wires of a fence, the same being so con structed and operated as to form a desirable locking connection of said wires. The construction of my improved clamp also admits of the same being produced at a low cost of manufacture and of its being readily and rapidly applied to wire-fence constructions.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a clamp for wire fences a metallic plate bent centrally to bring its face or wings substantially parallel and an approximately trapezoidal mortise formed in said plate through its bending-line and the ends of said mortise formed flaring substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HARRY L. FROST.

In presence of- Q. 0. SHEPHERD, F. H. SHEPHERD. 

